By TC News Desk
Agartala, October 31, 2023: Tripura observed Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day on Tuesday, October 31, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first deputy prime minister and home minister of independent India. A special ceremony was held at Swami Vivekananda Maidan in the capital city, where various ministers, officials and people paid tribute to the leader who played a key role in the integration of India.
The event was organized by the Youth Affairs and Sports Department of the state government. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare minister Ratan Lal Nath, Industries and Commerce minister Santana Chakma, Youth Affairs and Sports minister Tinku Roy, Deputy Speaker Ramprasad Pal were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony.
Addressing the gathering, minister Ratan Lal Nath said that since 2014, the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated the celebration of Sardar Patel’s birthday as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas across the country to increase awareness among people about his contributions. He said that Sardar Patel was the original architect of united India and that the Prime Minister honoured him by unveiling the world’s tallest statue of him in Gujarat in 2018.
Nath said that Sardar Patel was one of the social leaders in the freedom struggle and that he also envisioned a better India. He said that today was the day to take oath inspired by his vision. He said that the state government was working towards building a better and integral India under his guidance.
The ceremony was followed by a Unity Run, in which hundreds of people participated to show their respect and solidarity to Sardar Patel. The run started from Swami Vivekananda Maidan and ended at Rabindra Bhavan. The participants carried placards and banners with slogans of national unity and integration.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is celebrated every year on October 31 since 2014 to honour Sardar Patel, who is also known as the Iron Man of India. He is credited with unifying more than 500 princely states into the Indian Union after independence. He is also regarded as a symbol of strength, courage and patriotism.
